You've got to wonder about the timing of this exhibition. Who wouldn't have appreciated the chance to see a showcase of 2011 nengajo (New Year's greeting cards) by local hotshot graphic designers back in, say, November last year? Then we might have been saved the embarrassment of sending out yet another unstylish card this year — you know, the one with a rabbit and a speech bubble saying "Happy New Year!"

But, no, the Takeo paper company, who host the exhibition at their showroom in Tokyo's Jinbo-cho district, take the view that it also functions as a New Year's greeting from the participant designers to the public. Hence the exhibited nengajo are the real cards that the designers sent out to their friends and business acquaintances this year. And hence also, the show is always held in the new year (this year it's in its sixth year). Perhaps the best idea would be take along a notebook. That way if you see any ideas worth pilfering for your 2012 greeting card, you can jot them down.

Last year's show included the 2010 nengajo used by 100 well-known designers, including Kan Akita, Katsumi Asaba, Kenya Hara, Kazunari Hattori and Masahiro Kakinokihara.

"Nengajo from 100 Creators" will take place Jan. 14-Feb. 18 at the Takeo paper sample store; 3-18-3 Kandanishiki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. For more information, call (03) 3292-3669 or visit /www.takeo.co.jp/site/event/central.